Creating an American Brand: The Story of Shinola

By Automation Alley Staff | Automation Alley | 7/1/2015

We’re all about a great business success story at Automation Alley, and Detroit bicycle and watchmaker Shinola has one for the books. It’s the kind of story that’s generated national attention because it’s the epitome of Detroit’s comeback. An article published this month in Adweek—“How Shinola Went From Shoe Polish to the Coolest Brand in America” —proclaimed “At a time when mass-produced goods from China flood the market, Shinola has created a clean, functional and authentically American aesthetic that manages to feel both classic and modern at the same time. It is a brand committed to turning out high-quality products in America with, in as much as possible, American suppliers and American labor. To drive home that commitment, the company selected Detroit—the buckle of the American rust belt—as its base.”

We’re pleased to have Shinola, a new member of Automation Alley, host our next Morning Member Mingle at their new location in downtown Ann Arbor on Thursday, July 9. Come network with fellow Automation Alley members, enjoy coffee and pastries, and see for yourself how a company dedicated to the return of American manufacturing is thriving in our region and beyond.